The Isuzu UTE A-League is back this weekend and aleagues.com.au has everything you need to know ahead of Round 8 of the 2024-25 season.
Read on for a game-by-game preview ahead of Round 8.
*Bye: Melbourne Victory
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Friday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Industree Group Stadium – Paramount+
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It is the resurgent two-time reigning champions Central Coast Mariners against unbeaten Adelaide United in Gosford on Friday night.
The new-look Mariners have struggled for consistency amid an off-season of change and a mounting injury list, but Central Coast have now reeled off back-to-back victories to only sit adrift of the top six on goal difference.
It is Central Coast’s best run of form since winning six on the bounce en route to defending their crown in 2023-24.
Standing in their way are high-flying Adelaide, who are enjoying their best start to a season since 2014-15, when they went seven games without defeat to begin the campaign.
This matchup call also see Reds legend Isaias become the most-capped player in Adelaide’s history.
Adelaide will also be looking to snap a three-game drought against the Mariners.
Saturday, 3:00pm (AEDT): Wellington Phoenix v Macarthur Bulls
Sky Stadium – Paramount+
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After some derby pain, fifth-placed Wellington Phoenix return to some familiar surrounds for Saturday’s clash with Macarthur Bulls.
Wellington are coming off a 2-1 loss to rivals Auckland FC, while they are back at Sky Stadium for the first time since November 2.
Key, once again, to their hopes of maximum points will be veteran star Kosta Barbarouses, who has scored four of the Phoenix’s eight goals this season. He has also scored five goals in Wellington’s past three meetings with the Bulls.
Eighth-placed Macarthur are three games without a win, including back-to-back draws, but the 2024 Australia Cup champions kept their first clean sheet since April in the stalemate at Western United.
Saturday, 5:00pm (AEDT): Sydney FC v Western United
Allianz Stadium – 10 BOLD, Paramount+ and 10 Play
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One thing Ufuk Talay and Sydney FC are searching for in 2024-25 is consistency.
Across their opening six games, the star-studded Sky Blues have as many losses as wins – three – after last week’s 2-1 loss to Central Coast Mariners after goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares was sent off.
Sydney are only three points above Western United, who shared the points with Macarthur last time out, and already nine points off the pace.
While the coaches will not agree but this matchup is always a joy for neutrals as it normally guarantees goals. The last three A-Leagues meetings have ended 2-2, 4-2 and 3-3, with the Sky Blues claiming the only win in that run.
Saturday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Western Sydney Wanderers v Brisbane Roar
CommBank Stadium – 10 BOLD, Paramount+ and 10 Play
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After the Round 7 bye, Alen Stajcic’s Western Sydney Wanderers are back in action against cellar-dwellers Brisbane Roar.
The Wanderers have won two of their past three games, including a 2-0 success against Melbourne City prior to the bye.
While all eyes will be on Juan Mata and the minutes he receives at CommBank Stadium, Golden Boot leader and Socceroos hopeful Nicolas Milanovic will once again be key to Western Sydney’s quest for three points.
On the opposing side, the winless Roar will be relying heavily on teenage young gun Thomas Waddingham to snap a four-game winless run away from home, which coincidentally dates back to their last win on the road – away to the Wanderers in April.
Saturday, 9:45pm (AEDT): Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets
HBF Park – Paramount+
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Saturday will see two desperate teams face-off against each other with the chance to kick-start their seasons.
For Perth Glory, they are out to avoid an unwanted club record after being beaten by Melbourne Victory. Winless in their past 17 A-Leagues fixtures – a run stretching back to Round 18 of the 2023-24 season, if David Zdrilic’s side fail to beat Newcastle Jets, they will equal the club’s longest-ever winless run of 18 games recorded between December, 2006 and November, 2007.
As for the Jets, they are in the midst of a four-match losing streak after their defeat to Adelaide United.
11th and 12th in the standings respectively, the last five league games involving Perth and Newcastle have ended 2-2. In all five matchups, there have been equalisers from the 88th-minute onwards.
Sunday, 7:35pm (AEDT): Melbourne City v Auckland FC
AAMI Park – Paramount+
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Can Melbourne City stop history-making newcomers Auckland FC?
City welcome the Black Knights to AAMI Park on Sunday with the chance to hand the high-flying leaders their first loss of the season.
With six wins from six games, another Auckland triumph would see Steve Corica’s side match the 2006-07 Melbourne Victory team for the most consecutive wins to begin a season.
City – still without Socceroos pair Mathew Leckie and Marco Tilio – will be buoyed by their big win over Brisbane Roar in week six while a win would see the fourth-placed title hopefuls move within three points of top spot.
